Monday, August 24, 2009

Steuart was at the receiving end of what was one of the best trash-talking put-downs of the Civil War. Captured on the morning of May 12, 1864, at the Mule Show at Spotsylvania, Steuart, along with fellow captive, General Edward "Alleghany" Johnson, was taken to the rear where he was introduced to Union Second Corps commander, Winfield Scott Hancock. Hancock extended his hand, but Steuart was indignant. "Considering the circumstance, General, I refuse to take your hand," said the captured Confederate general. Without missing a beat, Hancock replied, "And under any other circumstance, General, I would have refused to offer it."

Saturday, August 22, 2009

. . .General James Nagle, organizer of the 48th Pennsylvania, passed away at the age of forty-four. He died in his home early that Wednesday morning, around 4:00 a.m., surrounded by his family.

The Pottsville Miners' Journal printed the following obituary, as well as an account of the general's funeral, which was held on Saturday, August 25, 1866.

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General James Nagle.-Sincere sorrow pervaded this community on Wednesday morning last, when the fact of Gen. Nagle’s death became known. The sad event was not unexpected, for he had suffered for years from disease of the heart and liver, and during the past few weeks it was evident to his friends that he was succumbing to the attacks of adversaries too powerful for medicine to combat successfully. He died on Wednesday morning at 4 o’clock at his residence in this Borough. A brave soldier of two wars; a good citizen; an estimable man, has passed away. While the memory of his worth will remain green in the memories of this community in which so many years of his useful life were spent, his name will be inscribed with honor on the pages of his country’s history. General Nagle was born in Reading, Pa., on the fifth of April, 1822, and was at the time of his death 44 years, 4 months, and 17 days old. From youth up his tastes were military. In 1842 he organized in Pottsville, where he resided, the Washington Artillery Company. When war was declared against Mexico, he, among the first, tendered the services of his Company, which were accepted. The Company left Pottsville on the 5th of December, 1846, for Pittsburgh, Pa., and was mustered into the United States service as Company B, 1st Pennsylvania Regiment. Gen Nagle, with his Company, was engaged during the entire siege of Vera Cruz, and rendered efficient service. In the Battle of Cerro Gordo he acted as Major of his Regiment. He with his Company and three others of the Regiment, was stationed at Perote Castle, to keep communication with Vera Cruz open, while the army under Gen. Scott, advanced. June 20, 1847, he assisted to route a force of guerillas at Lahoya. October 9, 1847, he fought at Huamantla; on the 12th at Puebla, and on the 19th at Atlixco. In each engagement the enemy was routed with heavy loss. Subsequently he entered the City of Mexico with his Regiment, remained there several weeks, and finally was stationed at San Angel until the close of the war. He was mustered out of the service with his Company at Philadelphia, July 27, 1848. The Company reached Pottsville on the 28th, where it and its commander were received with enthusiasm. Soon after the return of Gen. Nagle a valuable sword was presented to him by the citizens of this County, as a mark of their appreciation of his services in Mexico. In 1852 he was elected Sheriff, and subsequently Brigade Inspector and Colonel. Gen. Nagle was warmly identified with military matters in this County up to the commencement of the Rebellion in 1861, when he was commissioned of the Sixth Pennsylvania (three months) Regiment. He was in the skirmish of Falling Waters. During this term of service he secured the confidence of his superior officers and was complimented by them. In August, 1861, he organized the Forty-eighth Penna. Regt. for “three years of during the war” of which he was commissioned Colonel. He served with his Regiment at Fortress Monroe, Hatteras Island, and Newbern, and commanded with gallantry, judgment, and discretion, the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 9th Army Corps, in the Second Battle of Bull Run. Soon after the battle, he was recommended by Gen. Reno for promotion to Brigadier-General. The appointment was made by President Lincoln. Subsequently, Gen. Nagle was in the battles of Chantilly, South Mountain, and Antietam, and the Brigade greatly distinguished itself. In the carrying of Antietam Bridge which Gen. McClellan. . . . . . . the day, Gen. Nagle’s Brigade performed an important part and was especially complimented. At Amisville in a skirmish, Gen. Nagle with his Brigade, drove the rebels. In the first battle of Fredericksburg the Brigade fought bravely under its commander and sustained a heavy loss. Subsequently Gen. Nagle served with his Brigade in Kentucky, until May, 1863, when in consequence of suffering from disease of the heart, which finally caused his death, he was compelled to resign much to the regret of General Sturgess and the troops that Gen. Nagle commanded. At home rest and absence from the excitements and exposures of the field had a beneficial affect, and his health became so much improved that when Gen. Lee commenced his invasion of Pennsylvania in June, 1863, Gen. Nagle organized the Thirty-ninth Regiment, Pennsylvania Militia, for the emergency an was commissioned Colonel of it. He was mustered in July 6, went to the front, was assigned to command a Brigade, and was mustered out August 3, 1863. In 1864, Gen. Nagle organized the One Hundred and Ninety-fourth Pennsylvania Regiment, for the Hundred days’ service. He was commissioned Colonel July 31,and ordered to Baltimore. He subsequently commanded all of the troops at Mankin’s Woods-about 8000-and guarded the approaches to the City until the expiration of his term of service. He was mustered out November 5, 1864. This sums up a military service eventful and honorable. At the time of his death, Gen. Nagle was President of the Council of this borough.

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The Funeral of Gen. James Nagle. The remains of Gen. Nagle were interred in the Presbyterian Cemetery on Saturday afternoon last with military honors. During the morning the Ringgold Band of Reading, which had volunteered to play on the occasion, the Ashland Veterans, Capt. McLaughlin, and the Cumbola Nagle Guards reached the borough to attend the funeral. At noon Capt. Binder of Philadelphia, a companion-in-arms of Gen. Nagle in the Mexican War, having been in the same Regiment, Gen. Albright of Carbon County, and Major Bertolette of Reading, also arrived to assist in playing the last sad honors to the remains of the dead soldier. The body was viewed by hundreds before the hour of moving from the late residence of the deceased General. The corpse was attired in citizens’ dress, and rested in a coffin furnished by Mr. John Kalbach, Centre Street opposite the Union Hotel. It was made of walnut covered with black cloth, and the ornamentation was faultless, reflecting great credit on the taste of the maker. A silver plate on the lid bore the General’s name and age. The entire workmanship was the subject of much and just commendation. When the coffin was placed in the hearse it was covered with a silk national flag with a black rosette in each corner. On the top rested the sword which was presented to Gen. Nagle by the citizens of Schuylkill County, after his return from Mexico. About 3 o’clock the cortege moved from the house in the following order, left in front:Hydranlian Fire CompanyAmerican Hose CompanyHumane Hose CompanyGood Intent Fire Engine CompanyCumbola Nagle GuardsWashington Artillery CompanyAshland VeteransGrant Zouaves, PottsvilleRinggold Band, ReadingSoldiers Central League, PottsvilleDetachment of Soldiers in Mexican WarWho were in Gen. Nagle’s Company, bear-Ing the old Company flag.Officiating ClergyHearsePall Bearers—Gen. Wm. W. Duffield, Gen. Geo. C.Wynkoop, gen. H. Pleasants, Gen. Albright,Gen. J.A. Hennessy, Col. J.M. WetherillHorse and GroomMournersMounted Officers in UniformGen. J.K. Sigfried and Staff

The cortege which contained about six hundred persons, moved over the following route: From house to Market Street; down market to Centre; down Centre to Mahantango; up Mahantango to Clay; down Clay to Howard Avenue; down Howard Avenue to the Cemetery. All places of business were closed during the passage of the funeral train, and many houses along the route were clothed in mourning while flags were suspended at half mast and craped. The streets were filled with silent and mournful spectators. Minute guns were fired from Lawton’s Hill until the cortege reached the Cemetery. The religious services at the grave were conducted by Rev. Mr. McCool, rev. Mr. Cook and Rev. Mr. Billheimer. Mr. McCool delivered an impressive discourse, in which he dwelt at length upon the life, character, and services of Gen. Nagle. It was listened to attentively by the large concourse of persons present, which must have numbered between two and three thousand. The last military honors were paid by the Grant Zouaves who fired three vollies over the grave. The military then returned to Centre Street, where the line was dismissed. It was one of the largest and most imposing funerals ever seen here, the entire community evincing sincere sorrow at the loss of an estimable citizen, a brave soldier, a patriot, whose career will ever be referred to with pride by our citizens, and whose memory will be cherished while our hills endure.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Now that my latest book, Our Boys Did Nobly, has finally "hit the shelves," I am back to refocusing on my Antietam Commanders project. These past few weeks had me studying the Fifth Corps' actions during the Maryland Campaign, with most of my attention on brigade commanders James Barnes, Charles Griffin, and Thomas B.W. Stockton. Although not engaged at Antietam, these units, especially Barnes's brigade, participated in the battle's rather forgotten post-script at Shepherdstown. I thus took the opportunity to re-read Thomas McGrath's excellent study, Shepherdstown: Last Clash of the Antietam Campaign, September 19-20, 1862. Published by Schroeder Publications in late 2007, this is truly a great book. Richly illustrated with photographs and maps, and at only 200 or so pages, this is a quick read, and a real page-turner. McGrath presents not only a clear tactical explanation of the fight, but great insights into the commanders who participated in the battle, as well as the impact of the Maryland Campaign on the people of Shepherdstown, (West) Virginia. McGrath's writing style is simply superb, and his work is meticulously researched. Shepherdstown is a welcome addition to the growing body of work on the Maryland Campaign, and I cannot recommend it too highly.

I am happy to announce the publication of my new book, titled Our Boys Did Nobly: Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Soldiers at the Battles of South Mountain and Antietam. I began working on this book way back in 2005 and it was, truly, a labor of love. This is a straight-forward, old fashioned narrative, which tells of the experiences of the 48th, 50th, and 96th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiments during one of the Civil War's most consequentil campaigns and at one of its most important battles. Of course, their story is told within the larger context of the campaign. It is my hope that with this book I can contribute in some small way to our understanding of the campaign and its battles, and to pay tribute to the men of these regiments, all of which were recruited primarily from my native Schuylkill County. The book contains eight chapters, a preface and an epilogue, as well as two appendices. In all, it numbers 357 pages and is available for purchase at the price of $22.98. I went the self-publishing route with this one, and I am pleased with the result. The manuscript was accepted by a publishing company, but I turned down their offer because of the anticipated cost per book.

I began working on this project even before being hired at Antietam; becoming a ranger, though, convinced me that this was just something I needed to finish. I have been greatly assisted by a number of my colleagues, including Ranger Brian Baracz, who read the manuscript, corrected errors, and offered a number of suggestions. Ranger Mannie Gentile also contributed; in fact, he designed the incredible maps contained in the book.

Purchases can be made through this website, and also by clicking here. I am hoping to soon have it available at a number of locations in Schuylkill County and it will be available on amazon and other online distributors in a number of weeks.

About Me

Civil War Historian, Writer, and Park Ranger at the Antietam National Battlefield and Gettysburg National Military Park; Instructor of American History, Civil War History, and Mexican-American War History at American Military University.
[The thoughts and postings on this page are entirely my own and in no way are meant to reflect those of my employers].